Sean “Diddy” Combs instructed the choose at his intercourse trafficking trial that he is doing an “glorious job” as he confirmed Tuesday (Jun 24) that he gained’t testify.
Combs made the remark to US District Choose Arun Subramanian after being requested about testifying.
The query was posed by the Manhattan jurist after the prosecution rested following a greater than six-week-long presentation of proof in opposition to the hip-hop maven. Later within the afternoon, the defence rested with out calling any witnesses.
In a routine prevalence after prosecutors relaxation at prison trials, Combs’ legal professionals made arguments to toss out the fees, arguing the fees weren’t confirmed. The choose stated he’ll rule at a later date.
Prosecutors have known as 34 witnesses to attempt to show intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy fees that resulted in Combs’ September arrest, together with two ex-girlfriends of Combs who testified they felt coerced into marathon intercourse occasions with male intercourse staff that have been known as “freak-offs” or “lodge nights”.
Defence legal professionals, although, say they have been consensual sexual encounters in step with the swingers way of life.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible and has remained incarcerated with out bail in a federal lockup in Brooklyn after a number of judges concluded final fall that he was a hazard to the group.
It’s customary apply at federal prison trials for the choose to immediately query the defendant concerning the determination to testify or not, partly to make sure that the defendant is aware of it’s his determination, no matter what his legal professionals have instructed him.
When it got here time for Subramanian to query Combs after prosecutors rested, the choose requested him how he is doing.
“I am doing nice, your honour,” the Dangerous Boy Leisure founder answered, earlier than volunteering a praise to the choose earlier than one other query could possibly be posed.
“I wish to let you know thanks, you’re doing a superb job,” Combs stated.
Combs stated he “totally” mentioned the matter along with his legal professionals earlier than deciding to not testify.
“That’s my determination, your honour,” Combs stated, including: “That’s solely my determination.”
Prodded by the choose, he clarified additional: “I imply, it’s my determination with my legal professionals. … My determination to make. I’m making it.”
Because the trial started in early Might, authorities witnesses have included former staff of Combs’ firms, however the bulk of its proof has come from the testimony of two former girlfriends: Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a mannequin and web persona recognized to jurors solely by the pseudonym “Jane.”
Ventura, 38, testified for four days through the trial’s first week, saying she felt pressured to have interaction in lots of of “freak offs” as a result of the encounters would allow her to be intimate with Combs after performing sexually with male intercourse staff whereas he watched them slather each other with child oil and typically filmed the encounters.
Jane testified for six days concerning the sexual performances she labelled “lodge nights”, saying that she was placing them into perspective after starting remedy three months in the past. She stated she felt coerced into partaking in them as just lately as final August, however did so as a result of she cherished and nonetheless loves Combs.
Ventura was in a relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018, whereas Jane was steadily with him from 2021 till his arrest, which cancelled her plan to satisfy him on the New York lodge the place he was taken into custody.
The Related Press doesn’t typically determine individuals who say they’re victims of sexual abuse except they arrive ahead publicly, as Cassie has carried out.
All through the trial, defence legal professionals have made their case for exoneration via their questioning of witnesses, together with a number of who testified reluctantly or solely after they have been granted immunity from any crimes they could have dedicated.
Combs has been lively in his defence, writing notes to his legal professionals and typically serving to them determine when to cease questioning a witness.
He was admonished as soon as by the choose for nodding enthusiastically towards jurors throughout a profitable stretch of cross-examination by one in all his legal professionals. Prosecutors complained that his gestures have been a type of testifying with out being topic to cross-examination. The choose warned that he could possibly be excluded from his trial if it occurred once more.
In the past week, prosecutors and defence legal professionals have proven jurors over 40 minutes of recordings Combs manufactured from the “freak offs” or “lodge nights.”
A number of jurors often appeared squeamish as they seen and listened to audio of the encounters, however most didn’t appear to react.
In her opening assertion, Geragos had known as the movies “highly effective proof that the sexual conduct on this case was consensual and never based mostly on coercion”.
Closing arguments have been scheduled for Thursday.
